Variable area convergent-divergent exhaust nozzle and control therefor



n. a. CLARK ErAL Aug. 12, 1958 2,846,843

VARIABLE AREA CONVERGENT-DIVERGENT EXi-IAUST NOZZLE ANDCONTROL THEREFOR Filed Jan. 7, 1953 3 Sl'xeets-Sheet- 1 L L m y a m L9 LR mm m M h m T nA wm 8 T V ,A .V RN W M EA M Q P 5H M. 6 L) A. J w. MM. 6 All i K J z- IA... N M m: 1 A 0 R a x .1 n a M O 1T) a in ma m u i, m w I I m m P W c INVENTOR I MAI-D CLARK GIDRII I. MILI- WALTER umwu A. ATTORNEY Aug; 12, 1958 o. B. CLARK ETAL 2,846,843 VARIABLE AREA CQNVERGENT-DIVERGENT NOZZLE AND CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Jan. 7, 1953 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 snamu.

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llONAl-dr DILIIIIBDAC INVENTOREI DONALD E. CLARK RE! 5. KELLEY WALTER MLMAHNKCN AWF ATTORNEY Aug. 12, 1958 D. B. CLARK ETAL VARIABLE AREA .CQNVERGENT-DIVERGENT EXHAUST Filed Jan. 7, 1953 NOZZLE AND CONTROL THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sneet 3 United States Patent VARIABLE AREA C()NVERGENT-DIVERGENT EX- HAUST NOZZLE AND CONTROL THEREFOR Donald B. Clark, Pines Lake, George S. Kelley, Ridgewood, and Walter W. Mahnken, Union City, N. J., assignors to Curtiss-Wright Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application January 7, 1953, Serial'No. 329,956

11 Claims. (Cl. 60-35.6)

This invention relates to jet, engine exhaust nozzles and is particularly directed to means for automatically regulating the exit or discharge area of anozzle having adownstream divergent portion.

The exhaust nozzle of an aircraft jet enginemayhave a; convergent-divergent profile for maximum fuel economy and'engine performance particularly in the case of engines designed for high speed flight. During normal operation of such an aircraft jet engine nozzle the exhaust; gas flow through the divergent portion of the nozzle is. supersonic. Copending application Serial No. 311,918, filed September 27, 1952, discloses a mechanism for automatically varying the exit area of such a jet engine convergent-divergent exhaust nozzle; so that the. exhaust gases expand through the divergent nozzle; portion approximately down to the pressure of; the surrounding atmosphere whereby the forward thrust force tof the exhaust gases on the divergent nozzle portion isa maximum. As disclosed in said copending application the; pressure in the. nozzle is measured adjacent to the nozzle:- exit. and the nozzle exit is variedv so that said measured nozzle pressure is approximately equal to that: of the surrounding atmosphere. Basically the system. of said copending application is quite simple. However, atleast'in certain installations said nozzle pressure may be diflicult to measure. In addition, because any change in-the nozzle exit area affects said measured nozzlepressure, the system of saidicopending application may hunt under certain circumstances, for example if the system ismade too sensitive.

An object of the present invention comprises: the provisionof a novel mechanism for automatically controlling the exit area of jet engine, exhaust nozzle having. a diverging downstream portion such that nozzle exit. area is controlled by factors which are not affected bychanges in said area and said factors are relatively. easy to measure.

Other objects of the inventionwill. become apparent upon reading the annexed detailed; description in connection with the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a turbo-jet engine: with a variable area exhaust nozzle and in: block; diagram, an exhaust nozzle control. system embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similarv to Fig. 1 but illustrating a particular form of the nozzle controlv system;

Fig- 3 is a partial view illustrating a slight modification. of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a partial view of a modification similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating the invention applied to" a: ram-jet engine; and

Fig. 5 is a partial view of a further modification, of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the. drawing, reference numeral designates an aircraft turbo-jet engine. As illustrated, the engine 10 comprises an outer shell orduct 12 havingv a forwardly directed air inlet 14 at-its; forward end, an air compressor 16 which receives from theinlet 2,846,843 Patented Aug. 12, 1958 ICC 2 14, a combustion chamber 18 which receives compressed air from the compressor 16 and fuel from burner apparatus 20, and a turbine 22 which is driven by the gases from the chamber 18 and is drivably connected to the compressor 16. The turbine motive gases discharge rearwardly from the turbine 22 through the duct 12 and into the surrounding atmosphere through a nozzle 24 at the rear or downstream end of said duct. The turbojet engine 10 may also have an afterburner 26 between the turbine 22 and nozzle24.

For maximum fuel economy and engine performance, the nozzle 24 has a convergent-divergent profile with a variable throat area and an independently variable exit area. 'In the case of a turbo-jet engine, the provision of such an adjustable nozzleis particularly important when said engine is provided withan afterburne'r.

The nozzle 24 and the portion of the duct 12 adjacentthereto have a rectangular cross-section and said nozzle is generally similar to the nozzle disclosed in the aforementioned copencling application. Thus, the nozzle 24 comprises an upstream portion formed by a pair of opposed movable nozzle plates 28 extending between a pair of opposed fixed parallel side walls--30 of the downstream duct portion 12. The downstream portion of the nozzle 24 is formed bya pair of opposed movable nozzle plates 32 also extending between said side walls 30'. Each'upstream nozzle plate 28is pivotally connected at 34 to the adjacent downstream nozzle plate 32 to form the nozzle throat whereby the nozzle plates 28 fromthe convergent flow portion of the nozzle and the nozzle plates 32 form the divergent flow-portionof the nozzle.

The upstream end of each nozzle plate 28' is pivotally connected to the duct 12 at 38. In addition each-plate 28 has'an extension 40 which is connected to a piston rod ofa fluid motor piston 42 whereby the' nozzle throat area At can be varied by moving the'piston 42. The piston 42 is slidable within-a cylinder and'passages 44 and 46 provide for the admission of fluid pressure to either end of the piston cylinder whilethe other end of said cylinder is vented. Thus the nozzle throat area At can be regulated by controlling the relief and application of pressure to the fluid motor passages 44- and 46. For example, said area. A-t of the nozzle throat may heregul'ated so as to maintain the speed of the-turbine 22 constant'. However the specific manner in which the nozzle throat area At is varied forms no part of the invention.-

As described, the diverging'nozzle plates 3 2-a1'e pivot.- ally connected to the upstream nozzle plates 28- at the nozzle: throat whereby said diverging nozzle plates are pivotally movable to vary the nozzle-exit area Ae independently of the nozzle throat area A't. In order to move the diverging nozzle plates 32,- each' said plate is slidingly and pivotally connected toone end of a bell crank: lever 48 by means of a pin 50 on said lever end, said-.pin 50 being received in a slot 52 in the down stream end of the associated. nozzle plate. Eachbell crank lever 48' is pivotally supported intermediate its ends: and the other end of said bell crank lever neonnected to the piston rod of a fluid motor piston 54. A servo. mechanism 56 controls the admission of a fluid under pressure to one side or the other of thepiston 54: through one or the other of passages 60 and 62 while thetother' of said passages is vented. Motion ofthe piston: 54' to the right, as viewed in the drawing, decreases the nozzle exit area Ae independently of the nozzle. throat area At. Likewise. motion of the'piston 54 tothe left increases the nozzle exit area Ae independently of the nozzle throat area At.

For maximum forward pressure force or thrust of the'exhaust' gases-on the diverging portion of the nozzle,

the :exit: areaAe-of the nozzle should be: adjusted sothat the exhaust gases expand through said portion approximately down to the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere. It can be shown that this is so if the ratio of the nozzle exit area Ae to the nozzle throat area At is equal to a certain function of the ratio of the total pressure Pt of the exhaust gases immediately upstream of the nozzle to the static pressure Pa of the surrounding atmosphere. That is,

a n At Pa follows:

2 (7+1)! (7-1) 52) 'Y- 1 At 2 P 2/1 1 P (*r-D/v r2) a) l where 'y is the ratio of the specific heat of the exhaust gases at constant pressure to the specific heat at constant volume.

In accordance with the invention, the pressures Pt, Pa and the nozzle throat area At are measured and the nozzle exit area Ae is automatically regulated independently of the nozzle throat area At so that the above relation between these factors is satisfied. When this is so, the engine exhaust gases expand through the nozzle diverging portion down to the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere whereupon the forward pressure force of the exhaust gases on said diverging nozzle portion is a maximum. A block diagram of a control system for so regulating the nozzle exit area is illustrated in Fig. 1.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, a total pressure tube 70 is disposed in the duct 12 immediately upstream of the nozzle 24 and directed in an upstream direction relative to the flow of the exhaust gases for measuring the total pressure Pt of said gases. This pressure is transmitted by a line 72 as a pressure signal to a computer mechanism 74. A static pressure tube 76 is disposed so as to be responsive to the free stream pressure Pa of the atmosphere surrounding the aircraft engine. This static pressure is transmitted as a pressure signal by a line 78 to the computer mechanism 74. The computer mechanism takes the input signals of Pt and Pa and provides an output signal which is a measure of the ratio Pt/Pa. This latter pressure ratio signal is fed into a so-called characterizing box 80 as schematically indicated by the line 82. The characterizing box 80 modifies said pressure ratio signal to provide an output signal equal to the aforedescribed function of said ratio, f (Pt/Pa). Since it is desired to maintain the nozzle area ratio Ae/At equal to this modified pressure ratio signal the output of the characterizing box is a signal of the desired nozzle area ratio Ae/At. This latter nozzle area ratio signal is fed into a second computer mechanism 84 as schematically indicated by a line 86. A signal of the actual nozzle throat area A2 is also fed into the computer mechanism 84 by a connection, schematically indicated by the line 88, with the nozzle throat controlling piston 42. The computer mechanism 84 multiplies the signal of the desired nozzle area ratio Ae/At with the signal of the actual nozzle throat area At to provide an output signal of the desired nozzle exit area Ae. This output signal of the desired Ae is fed into a comparator 90, as schematically indicated by a line 92. In addition a signal of where the actual nozzle exit area Ae, as provided by a connection (schematically indicated by the line 94) with the nozzle exit area control piston 54, is fed into the comparator 90. The comparator 9!) compares the signals of the desired and actual nozzle exit area Ac and provides an output signal which is a function of their difference. This output signal is termed the nozzle exit area Ae error signal and this error signal is supplied to the servo mechanism 56, by a connection indicated by the line 96, to cause the piston 54 to operate and adjust the nozzle exit area so that the actual nozzle exit area Ae is equal to the desired value.

Obviously the nozzle area control mechanism illustrated by block diagram in Fig. 1 could assume various forms. Thus this mechanism could involve hydraulic, pneumatic and/ or electric circuits. A particular electric circuit arrangement of a control mechanism for carrying out the invention is illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is identical with Fig. 1 except for the details of and connections to the blocks 56, 74, 80, 84 and 90. Therefore identical reference numerals have been used to designate the corresponding parts of Figs. 1 and 2.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the computer mechanism 74 comprises a flexible bellows into which the total pressure signal Pt is transmitted by the line 72. One end of the bellows 100 is anchored and the other end of said bellows is connected to a potentiometer wiper arm 102 which is movable across a potentiometer resistance 104. The potentiometer resistance 104 is connected across the secondary of a transformer 106 while the primary of said transformer is connected to an electric alternating current source E. The resistance 104 is uniformly wound so that anywhere along the path of travel of the potentiometer wiper arm 102 the same magnitude of resistance is included between any two equally spaced points along said path. Therefore the voltage E1, be tween the wiper arm 102 and one end of the potentiometer resistance 104 is proportional to the pressure Pt. As illustrated, said resistance end is grounded.

The computer mechanism also includes a second flexible bellows 108 into which the static pressure signal Pa is transmitted by the line 78. One end of the bellows 108 is anchored and the other end of said bellows is connected to a potentiometer wiper arm 110 movable across a potentiometer resistance 112. The potentiometer 112 is connected across the secondary of a transformer 114 the primary of which is also connected to the alternating source E. The potentiometer resistance 112 is also uniformly wound so that the voltage E2 between the wiper arm and one end of the resistance 112 is proportional to the pressure Pa and as illustrated said resistance end is grounded.

Also included in the computer mechanism 74 is a potentiometer resistance 116. This resistance 116 is uniformly wound and is connected across the wiper arm 110 and the grounded side of the potentiometer resistance 112. A wiper arm 118, carried by a shaft 120, is movable along the resistance 116 and E3 designates the voltage between said arm 11S and ground. The shaft 120 is connected to a conventional reversible two phase electric motor 122. The one winding 124 of said two phase motor is grounded at one end and its other end is connected to the wiper arms 102 and 118. through like resistances 126. The other winding 128 of the two phase motor 122 is connected across the secondary of a transformer 130 whose primary is also connected to the alternating current source E. The circuit of the winding 128 includes the usual 90 phase shifting means indicated by the condenser 132.

As illustrated, the primaries of the transformers 106 and 114 are connected so that the voltages E1 and E3 are out of phase. Because of this 180 phase relation ship of the voltages E1 and E3, when said voltages are equal in magnitude no current flows through the motor winding 124 and the motor 122 doesnot operate. If,

however; one. of-the -voltages E1 and E3 is. greaterthan 1.1160111613111811 a current flowsthrough themotor winding 124 and..said current either leads .or lags. (by approximately .90.? the current in the other motor winding 128 whereupon themotor 122 operates in onedirection or the other depending. on which of said voltages is the largest. The motor windings 124 and128 are. connected so that if voltage- E1. is larger than E3 the motor 122 runs in a direction toincrease E3- until said voltages are again equal in. magnitude. That is, the motor 122 automatically operates to. keep the voltage E3 equal to the voltage E1. As previously stated the voltage E1 is proportional to Pt and .the voltage E2 is-proportional to Pa. Also if S is the displacementof the shaft 120 then the voltage E3is proportional totheproduct of S and Pa. Therefore E1: APt E3=BSPa where A and B are constants. Since the motor 122 automatically moves the potentiometer. wiper armi 118Ito.

maintain E3 equal 'to E1 it follows that.

APt=BSPa where C is a constant. Thus the rotativedisplacement of the shaft 120'isa signal of the 'pressure'rati'o Pt/Pa;

The shaft-120- extends into the characterizingbox 80 therebytransmitting the pressure ratio signal Pt/Pa 'to'said box. In r this sense the shaft 120 corresponds to the schematic'connection 82 of'Fig. 1'.

The characterizing box 80 includes a potentiometer wiper arm 134 to"which'the'shaft' 120 is connectedi The wiper arm 134- is. movable along'a non uniformly wound potentiometer resistance 136. The non-uniform nature of the'resistance 136 is hereinafter described. The potentiometer' resistance 136 is connected across the secondary of a transformer 138, the primary of which is "connected to the alternating current source E. Therefore thevoltage E4 between the wiper'arm 134and one side (the grounded side) ofthe potentiometer resistance 136 is a function of the" displacement of said wiper'arm and the nature *of'thisfunction depends on the non-unform nature of said resistance 136; The displacement of thewiper arm'134 is equal to the displacement S of "the shaft 120 wherebyj E4='f(S) but Pt S (llso that Pt. on f Obviously the voltage signal E4' can be made equalto any desired function of the pressure ratio Pt/P'a by properly winding the resistance 136. As'previously stated, if the nozzle area ratio Ae/At is maintained equal to a certain specifiedfunction ofsaid pressure ratio then the exhaust gases will expand through the. diverging nozzle portion 32 down to the surrounding atmosphere whereupon the forward pressure force of said exhaust gases on said diverging nozzle portion will be a maximum. The resistance 136 is wound so that the voltage E4 is equal'to this previously specifiedtuncti'on of said pressure ratio whereupon The voltage signal E4 is fed into the computer mechanism 84"by a wire 140 so that said wire corresponds to i the schematicconnection 86 of Fig. 1.

The computer. mechanism 84 includes auniformly wound potentiometer resistance 142lover which a potentiometerwiper arm 144 is movable. The wire is connected to one .end of the. resistance 142 and the other end of saidresistance is grounded. The potentiometer arm 144 is connected to the nozzlethroat area regulating piston 42 .by means1146 including a bell, crank lever 148 wherebvthedisplacement ofthe'wiper arm 144 isproportional to the actual throat area A2 of the nozzle. Thus themeans 146 and bell crank lever 148 supply the computer 84 with a signal of the actual 'nozzle throat area Ar and therefore said means 146 and lever 148 correspond to the connection 88offFig. .1. The voltage ESbetween the wiper arm 144 and ground 'is proportional to. the product .of'thevoltage E4 and'the displacement of the wiper arm 144. As previously stated; thevoltage E4 is proportional to the desired nozzle area .ratio Ae/At and the displacement ofjthe wiper. arm 144 'isproportidnal to the actual value of 'At vso that E5": DAt

nected tothe source of'electricenergyE so'that the'voltage E5"'is "180 'out' of-phase'with the voltage E6 between the Wiper arm 152 and the grounded end of the resistance 154'.

A signal of the actual magnitude of the nozzle exit area'Ae is'fed into the comparator 90' by 3.1 connection 158, including a bell crank ilever 160, between-thepotentiometer'wiper arm 152' and the nozzle exit area regulating piston 54. Thus the connection 158. and its bell crank lever corresponds to theconnection 94' of Fig.1 and the voltage E6 is proportional 'to theactual magnitude of Ae.

The comparator 90 also includesa conventional twophase reversible electric motor 162. One winding-1'64 of said motor is-groundedat oneend; The other-end of the winding 164' is connected tothe-potentiometer wiper arm-144 through a resistance'166 and the wire 150 and is also connected-to the potentiometer. Wiper am 152 through a resistance 168'and wire 170; saidresistances being equal. The other winding 172 of -the .motor'162 is connected across' the secondary of 'atransformer :174 whose primary is connected' to the alternatingcurrent source E; The circuit of the winding'172includes'the usual'90' phase shifting:.m.eans indicatedby'thecondenser 176.. As previously noted; the-voltages E5 and B6 are out of phase so that'the motor 162 willrun in one direction ortheother depending on which ofsaid voltages is the largest. Furthermore since the voltages ES and E6 are' proportional to the desired and actual values, respectively, of the nozzle exit area Ae the operation of the motor .162provid'es a signal of'anyerror; in the" actual setting; of nozzle exitarea Ae.

Themotor 162 is connected. to the s'ervo'rnechanism 56 bythe'nlotor' shaft 178' and rack'and pinion gearing 180 thereby transmitting the-.Ae error signal to said mechanism 56. Thusthe motor shaft178' and gearing 180 corresponds'to'the connection 96 of Fig. l. The. servo mechanism 56 includes a servo valve 182 connected'to the rack of'the gearing 180 whereby the valve 182 moves in one'direction or the other depending on the direction of' operation of the motor 162; The servo valve 182 controls the admission of a fluid under pressure from a supply passage 184 to the passages 60 and 62. In the neutral position illustrated, the servo valve 182 closes both passages 60 and 62. Upon movement of the servo valve 182 to the right, from its neutral position, fluid under pressure is admitted through the passage 62 to the right side of the piston 54 while the passage 60 is vented thereby causing the piston 54 to move to the left to increase the nozzle exit area As independently of the nozzle throat area At. Likewise, upon motion of the servo valve 182 to the left, from its neutral position, fluid under pressure is admitted through the passage 60 to the left side of the piston 54 while the passage 62 is vented thereby causing the piston 54 to move to the right to decrease the nozzle exit area Ae independently of its throat area At. The motor 162 is connected to the servo valve 182 so that whenever the voltage E6 differs from E said motor operates to adjust the nozzle exit area Ae in a direction to rebalance said voltages. Therefore, since the voltages E5 and E6 are proportional to the desired and actual values, respectively, of the nozzle exit area Ae, said nozzle exit area is automatically main tained equal to the theoretically desired value as determined by the measured values of Pt, Pa and At such that the exhaust gases expand through the diverging nozzle pori only true if the resistance of said parallel circuit is large compared to the resistance of its potentiometer. Therefore, for accuracy of the output signal of each device 74, 80, 84 and 90 the resistance of each such parallel circuit of said device should be made large compared to the resistance of its potentiometer. In addition this loading effect of each parallel circuit on its potentiometer can be minimized by using a circuit arrangement such as disclosed in Fig. 5 of an article by William Shannon entitled Electronic Computers and appearing on pages 110-113 inclusive of the August 1946 issue of Electronics Magazine. It is again emphasized, however, that the specific details of the electric circuit form no part of the present invention.

Except for pressure losses, the total pressure Pt in the duct 12 immediately downstream of the turbine 22,

but upstream of the afterburner 26, is the same as the total pressure Pt in said duct immediately upstream of the nozzle 24 but downstream of the afterburner 26. Furthermore, when the afterburner 26 is operating the temperature is considerably higher at the nozzle 24 than it is immediately downstream of the turbine 22 so that the pressure Pt is easier to measure than the pressure Pt.

Therefore if the pressures Pt and Pt are substantially proportional the system of Figs. 1 and 2 may be modified as illustrated in Fig. 3, by substituting the total pressure Pt in the duct 12 immediately downstream of the turbine 22 for the pressure Pt used in Figs. 1 and 2. The engine nozzle and nozzle exit area control of Fig. 3 is otherwise identical to that of Figs. 1 and 2 and the parts of Fig. 3 have been designated by the same reference numerals, but with a subscript a added thereto, as the corresponding parts of Figs. 1 and 2. Accordingly no further description of Fig. 3 is deemed necessary and it I w is apparent that in Fig. 3, as in Figs. 1 and 2, the nozzle exit area is controlled so that the engine exhaust gases expand through the diverging nozzle portion down to approximately the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere.

If the pressures Pt and Pt are not substantially proportional the exact functional relation between these two Having determined the relation between the pressures Pt and Pt and if other variables do not affect this relation too much, the difference between Pt and Pt could be taken into account in Fig. 3 by so winding the potentiometer resistance 104a (not illustrated in Fig. 3 but corresponds to potentiometer resistance 104 of Fig. 2) so that although the position of its wiper arm was proportional to Pt, the voltage between said wiper arm and the grounded end of said resistance (E1 in Fig. 2) was proportional to Pt.

The invention is not limited to a turbo-jet engine and instead is applicable to other types of jet engines. Fig. 4 illustrates the invention applied to a ram-jet engine.

A ram-jet engine 200 is schematically illustrated in Fig. 4 as comprising a duct 202 having a center body 204 supported therein at the forward end of said duct and forming a forwardly directed annular air entrance opening. Burner apparatus for the ram-jet engine combustion chamber 206 is schematically indicated at 208, said apparatus supplying fuel for combustion with the air entering the duct 202. The combustion gases discharge rearwardly into the surround atmosphere through a nozzle disposed at the rear end of the duct 202. In Fig. 4 the ram-jet engine-nozzle and the nozzle exit area control mechanism are identical with that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and the parts of the nozzle and its control mechanism of Fig. 4 have been designated by the same reference numerals but with a subscript b added thereto as the corresponding reference numerals of Figs. 1 and 2. Thus no further description of Fig. 4 is necessary and it is apparent that in Fig. 4, as in Figs. 1 and 2, the exit area of the engine exhaust nozzle is varied independently of the nozzle throat area so that the exhaust gases expand through the diverging nozzle portion down to the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere.

As in the case of the turbo-jet engine, the manner in which the throat area of the ram-jet exhaust nozzle is varied forms no part of the invention. For example, in the case of a ram-jet engine said throat area may be varied in response to changes in flight Mach number, changes in the air inlet temperature and/ or changes in the exhaust gas temperature.

At any point within a ram-jet duct, the total pressure of the gases flowing therethrough, is equal to the total pressure Pt of said gases at a point immediately upstream of the exhaust nozzle except for pressure losses between said points. Accordingly the structure of Fig. 4 may be modified by substituting the total pressure anywhere along the ram-jet duct in a manner similar to the modification of Figs. 1 and 2 illustrated in Fig. 3. Furthermore, as discussed in connection with Fig. 3, if said substituted total pressure is not substantially proportional to the pressure Pt immediately upstream of the exhaust nozzle this may be taken into account by properly winding the potentiometer resistance whose wiper arm responds to this pressure.

Power control systems of aircraft jet engines frequently employ a flight Mach number signal which is obtained from the total pressure of the adjacent free air stream relative to the aircraft and the static pressure of said air stream or surrounding atmosphere. In the case of a ram-jet engine, except for pressure losses through the ram-jet duct, said free air stream total pressure is equal to the total pressure Pt of the engine gases immediately upstream of the engine exhaust nozzle. Accordingly Fig. 4 may be also modified by using the total pressure of the surrounding free air stream in place of the total pressure Pt of the gases upstream of the exhaust nozzle. This modification is illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 illustrates a jet engine 300 comprising a duct 302 having a forwardly directed air entrance opening 304 and having a variable area exhaust nozzle disposed at the rear or discharge end of said duct. Said exhaust nozzle and the nozzle exit area control mechanism are identical with the nozzle and control mechanism of Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 except the total pressure of the surround- 9 ring Yair relative .to athe: aircraft ,engine is ,substitutedqfor -;t he atotal pressure measurementaofzFigs. 1, ,2, .3 and 4. ;Accordingly-.the. partsaoftthe nozzle. and control mechanism therefor of Fig. 5 are designatedzby thesame refer- ..ence numerals; butt-with .a subscriptc c; substituted for the tsubscript ;as the .corresponding-parts ft Fig. .4. Thus in Fig. .5. reference mumbr .-70c. designates. a. total;;pr.es

- in ,a lmannerwas simple as sitis -.in ,the ;case-.of a: ram-jet :engine. Nevertheless, at .least :in some turbo-jet; installation s said totahpressuretof. the .surrounding air stream may be .a sufiiciently, accurate a measure. of said pressure Pt sothatathe systemof Big. 5i.could:.,also .be ;-LIS6d.i 11-Ih6 caseof .a. turbo-jet engine-with ;the: result that. .the nozzle exit area would be automatically controlled so that the exhaust -;gases iexpand tthroughathe :divergi-ng nozzle porwhich v= is ameasure Dfg-the rthroatt areaqof said nozzle; an'd means .responsive to tsaid .-signa 1s and s operatively connected to said nozzle-for regulating ,the; nozzle' exit .area: sosthat a,;predete r-mined: relationfis .maintained be- .tween. .saidv control. signal .andthe ratio of .theqnozzle. exit -area to the nozzle throat-area.

:4. In. combination -.with an aircraftzjet engine .having "a convergent-divergent nozzle through which the engine aexhaust :gases discharge .for providing ---the engine with .aforward propulsivedhrust .said nozzle having an ,adjustable. throat area iandaanaadjustable.exitarea;.- -means for .providing -a signal which is a function x of the .-.-flight speed. :of .the engine; means. forg providing a second-signal which ista: measure ,of the throat area\ of :said nozzle; .and means .responsive .to ..said ,signals and @operatively connected to said .tnozzle ;for regulating .the nozzles exit .area.

5 In combination with .an' aircraft .jet \engine having -.a .convergentsdivergentinozzle-through --which theten gine .exhaust gases discharge for pprovidin-g themengi-ne awith forward propulsive thrust,,said.noz zle having an-adjustable throat area and angadjustableyexitsarea; means for providi.ng a:,signal rwhichis a function of .the tratiorof =.the .total exhaust gas pressure sl pstream of the nozzle tion down toapproximatelyrthe; pressureof the surround-' throatgandttheastatic pressure.of .theisurroundingsatmosing atmosphere. "Accordingly inFig. 5 engine 300 may "be either=a= ram-jetor-a turbo-jet engine. Furthermore, as discussed-inconnection with Figs. 3 and-4,where a ;pressure is subs-ti-t-uted-i n.--the nozzle "exit areacontrol mechanismof-Figs. 1 and 2 -for the total pressure Pt on the enginegases-immediatelyupstream of 'the exhaust "nozzle, it may be-pOSsible to correct for relative-changes in said pressures-by-properly wind-ing the potentiometer resistance "whose wiper arm responds to said -=substituted pressure so that the potentiometer provides -a voltage proportional said pressure Pt.

While we have described our invention in detail in its present preferred embodiment, it Will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding our invention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein Without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. We aim in the appended claims to cover all such modifications.

We claim as our invention:

1. In combination with an aircraft jet engine having a convergent-divergent nozzle through which the engine exhaust gases discharge for providing the engine with forward propulsive thrust, said nozzle having an adjustable exit area; means providing a signal which is a predetermined function of the total pressure of the exhaust.

gases upstream of the nozzle throat and the static pressure of the surrounding atmosphere; and means responsive to said signal and operatively connected to said nozzle for regulating the nozzle exit area such that an.

a a convergent-divergent nozzle through which the engine exhaust gases discharge for providing the engine with forward propulsive thrust, said nozzle having an adjustable throat area and an adjustable exit area; means providing a first signal which is a function of a condition indicative of engine performance; means providing a second signal which is a measure of the throat area of said nozzle; and means responsive to said signals and operatively connected to said nozzle for regulating the nozzle exit area.

3. In combination with an aircraft jet engine having a convergent-divergent nozzle through which the engine exhaust gases discharge for providing the engine with forward propulsive thrust, said nozzle having an adjustable throat area and an adjustable exit area; means pro viding a control signal; means providing a second signal .phere; .means. for providing a ,second .signal which is a .;measure of "the .throat area :of said nozzle; and :means ,responsive to..sa id signals. and operatively-connected I to .said nozzle .for. regulating ,the nozzle exit area.

#6. .=.In rcombinat-ion .with .an raircraft jet. engine having aa convergent dive -gent .nozzle through which theengine exhaust} gases discharge :for providing the -:engine :with forward propulsive.,thrust, said .-nozzle-/havin;g an adjust- ,able throat area and anaadjustable exit area; .means intcluding -a cltotal .Q.head-. tube .for ;pr oviding-,a signal which is a measure of the exhaust gas total pressure upstream 'of the nozzle throat; means including a static pressure tube for providing a signal which is a measure of the static pressure of the surrounding atmosphere; and means responsive to a predetermined function of said signals and operatively connected to said nozzle for regulating the nozzle exit area such that an increase in said total pressure of the exhaust gases and a decrease in said static pressure of the surrounding atmosphere both tend to efiect an opening adjustment of the nozzle exit.

7. In combination with an aircraft jet engine having a convergent-divergent nozzle through which the engine exhaust gases discharge for providing the engine with forward propulsive thrust said nozzle having an adjustable throat area and an adjustable exit area; means for providing a first signal which is a measure of the total pressure of the exhaust gases upstream of the nozzle throat; means for providing a second signal which is a measure of the static pressure of the surrounding atmosphere; means for providing a third signal which is a measure of the nozzle exit area; means providing a fourth signal which is a measure of the nozzle throat area; and means responsive to said signals and operatively connected to said nozzle for regulating the nozzle exit area to maintain a predetermined relation between the ratio of said first and second signals and the ratio of said third and fourth signals.

8. In combination with an aircraft jet engine having a convergent-divergent nozzle through which the engine exhaust gases discharge for providing the engine with forward propulsive thrust said nozzle having an adjustable throat area and an adjustable exit area; means for providing a first signal which is a measure of the total pressure of the exhaust gases upstream of the nozzle throat; means for providing a second signal which is a measure of the static pressure of the surrounding atmosphere; means for providing a third signal which is a measure of the nozzle throat area; and means responsive to said signals and operatively connected to said nozzle for regulating the nozzle exit area such that by itself any increase in said first signal, decrease in said second signal and increase in said third signal each tends to cause an increase in the nozzle exit area.

9. In combination with an aircraft jet engine having a convergent-divergent nozzle through which the engine exhaust gases discharge for providing the engine with forward propulsive thrust said nozzle having an adjustable throat area and an adjustable exit area; means for providing a first signal which is a measure of the total pressure of the exhaust gases-upstream of the nozzle throat; means for providing a second signal which is a measure of the static pressure of the surrounding atmosphere; means for providing a third signal which is a measure of the nozzle exit area; means providing a fourth signal which is a measure of the nozzle throat area; and means responsive to said signals and operatively connected to said nozzle for regulating the nozzle exit area such that by itself any increase in said first signal, decrease in said second signal, decrease in said third signal and increase in said fourth signal each tends to cause an increase in said nozzle exit area.

10. In combination with an aircraft jet engine having a convergent-divergent nozzle through which the engine exhaust gases discharge for providing the engine with forward propulsive thrust said nozzle having an adjustable throat area and an adjustable exit area; means for providing a first signal which is a measure of the ratio of a pressure indicative of engine performance and the static pressure of thesurrounding atmosphere; means for deriving a second signal from said first signal which is a predetermined function of said ratio; means for providing a third signal which is a measure of the throat area of said nozzle; means for multiplying said second and third signals to provide a fourth signal; and means operatively connected to said nozzle and responsive to changes in said fourth signal for regulating the nozzle exit area so that an increase or decrease in said fourth signal results in an increase or decrease, respectively, in the nozzle exit area.

11. In combination with an aircraft jet engine having a convergent-divergent nozzle through'which the engine exhaust gases discharge for'providing the engine with forward propulsive thrust said nozzle having an adjustable throat area and an adjustable exit area; means for providing a first signal which is a measure of the ratio of a pressure indicative of engine performance and the static pressure of the surrounding atmosphere; means for deriving a second signal from said first signal which is a predetermined function of said ratio; means for providing a third signal which is a measure of the throat area of said nozzle; means for multiplying said second and third signals to provide a fourth signal; meansfor providing a fifth signal which is a measure of the exit area of the nozzle; and means responsive to the difference of said fourth and fifth signals and operatively connected to said nozzle for regulating the nozzle exit area to maintain said difference at a minimum value.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,411,895 Poole Dec. 3, 1946 2,537,772 Lundquist et a1. Ian. 9, 1951 2,563,270 Price Aug. 7, 1951 2,566,961 Poole Sept. 4, 1951 2,570,629 Anxionnaz et a1. Oct. 9, 1951 2,603,062 Weiler et al. July 15, 1952 2,623,352 Sedille et a1. Dec. 30, 1952 2,641,324 Fortescue June 9, 1953 2,671,620 Andrews Mar. 9, 1954 

